Lifting device

ABSTRACT

Upon lifting of an article by the device, lever means connected to its handle exerts a forwardly directed force which assists in preventing accidental disengagement of article-supporting flange means of the device from the undersurface of the article being lifted. The device is of compact and economical construction. It preferably is suitably padded, and may also be provided with article-retaining strap means.

United States Patent 1 1 Blackwelder Apr. 23, 1974 1 LIFTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Charlie E.'Blackwelder, 244

Laverna Dr., Concord, NC. 28025 [22 Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 291,819

[52] US. Cl. 294/15 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 7/12 [58] Field of Search 294/15, 92, 67 R; 214/370,- 214/374, 379, 381, 383, 390; 224/45 F, 45 P; 280/47.27, 47.29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,627 1/1945 Sterrett 294/15' 2,739,007 3/1956 Rauterberg 294/15 2.838,]90 6/1958 Stevens 214/374 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph H. Heard 57 ABSTRACT Upon lifting of an article by the device, lever means connected to its handle exerts a forwardly directed force which assists in preventing accidental disengagement of article-supporting flange means of the device from the undersurface of the article being lifted. The device is of compact and economical construction. It

preferably is suitably padded, and may also be provided with article-retaining strap means.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures iATENTED APR 2 3m FIG. 3

FIG. 4

LIFTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved device for lifting and otherwise handling furniture, baggage, crates, applicances such as stoves and refrigerators, and like articles which are heavy and/or difficult to conveniently and securely grasp.

Lifting devices of the aforesaid general type are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 1,428,285, 2,178,738, 2,262,918, 2,274,918, 2,367,627 and 2,739,007. Such devices customarily include a generally upright frame having forwardly projecting flange means adapted to underlie the article to be lifted, and at least one handle adapted tobe grasped by the person using the device. The devices may also be provided with various accessories, such as casters and/or suitable padding or cushioning material.

It is highly desirable that a lifting device of the type in question be so constructed as to discourage, insofar as might be possible, accidental disengagement or slippage of its flange means from the undersurface of the article being lifted. If such accidental disengagement or slippage should occur, damage to the article being lifted and/or severe injury to the person utilizing the device might easily result. It is also highly desirable that the lifting device be of a highly compact construction since narrow doorways, passages and the like must frequently be negotiated during use of the device. If the handle or some other portion of the device projects too far outwardly from its frame, use of the device in such confined areas may be impossible or may subject the user to possible injury, as by engagement between his hand and a doorway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a highly compact and economical lifting device which is so constructed as to discourage accidental disengagement or slippage of its flange means from the undersurface of the article being lifted. Upon lifting of an article by the device, lever means connected to its handle exerts a forwardly directed force upon the lower portion of its frame from which the article-supporting flange means project. Such force tends to maintain the flange means in underlying relationship to the article being lifted by the device. The overall dimensions of the device are such as to permit its convenient utilization in confined areas, and the handle of the device is so located and shielded as to minimize the possibility of injury to the hand of a person using the device even in such confined areas.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further includes suitable padding which prevents possible marring of the articles to be lifted, and articleretaining strap means are also provided for optional use when possible and desired. The device may also be provided, if desired, with suitable floonengaging casters, which may be pivotable into and out of use at desired times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS out hereinafter, in the following descriptionof an illustrative embodiment thereof, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

i FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a lifting device embodying the invention in its operative relationship to an article to be lifted thereby, the article being fragmentarily shown in phantom lines and a strap component of the device being partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lifting device of FIG. 1, with certain components partially broken away to better disclose details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, with certain components partially broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section, with certain components shown intop plan and partially broken away, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing in phantom lines an alternative position of one component.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing, the lifting device identified in its entirety in FIGS. 1-3 by the numeral 10 comprises generally uprightframe means including vertical frame members 12,12 interconnected by a horizontal frame member 14; flange means including flanges 16,16 carried by the aforesaid frame adjacent the lower end thereof and projecting forwardly and generally horizontally'therefrom; handle means in the form of a rod-like handle member 18 disposed adjacent the rear of the upper end portion of the frame of device 10 and extending generally horizontally the entire length thereof; lever means including lever assemblies 20,20 interconnecting handle member 18 and the frame of device 10 for exerting a forwardly directed force upon the lower end portion of such frame when device 10 is lifted by a person grasping handle 18; optionally-usable article-retaining means including an elongate strap member 24 and clamping assembly 26; and resilient padding means 22. Padding 22 is formed of any suitable fabric or rubber-like material, and is glued or otherwise suitably secured upon theforward surfaces of frame members 12,12 and the upper surfaces of flanges 16,16, which components are preferably of rigid metallic construction. a

As is shown in FIG. 1 and as is well known to those skilled in the art, the aforesaid padded surfaces of device 10 are those which normally engage an article 28 being lifted by it, at which time flanges 16,16 underlie the article and frame members 12,12 abut the adjacent side of the article. In some instances strap 24 might be employed, in a manner described hereinafter, to maintain the foregoing relationship between-device I0 and an article 28 being lifted and handled by it. At other times, however, strap 28 might not be used, in which event another device 10 or other lifting means (not shown) would normally be employed on the opposite side of the article 28 being lifted. Particularly in the latter case, it is of considerable importance that device 10 be so constructed as to discourage accidental disengagement or slippage of flanges 16,16 from the undersurface of article 28 during lifting of the article by the device. Such function is performed by. assemblies 20,20, which are of an identical construction to be now described.

' Assembly 20 comprises a pair of elongate rigid linkage members 30,32 bolted together or otherwise integrally joined at adjacent ends thereof to form a lever generally having the overall shape of the numeral 7. At one side of device 10 and adjacent the upper end thereof, an ear 34 is formed integrally with frame member 12 and projects rearwardly therefrom. A pivot-pin member 36 carried by ear 34 projects through a medial portion of linkage member 30 and mounts such linkage member for pivotal movement about the substantially horizontal axis of member 36. The free forwardmost end portion of linkage member 30 supports and is bolted or otherwise suitably connected to the adjacent end of handle 18 of device 10, which handle projects freely through an opening 38 provided in frame member 12. The lowermost end of the other linkage member 32 at least abuts and may be, as shown, bolted or otherwise suitable secured to a lower portion of frame member 12 of device 10. As previously noted, lever assembly 20 is of the same construction as lever assembly 20 and its components are identified in the drawing by the same reference numerals with the addition of prime designations. Assembly 20 is disposed on the opposite side of device 10 and is connected to frame member 12 and handle 18 in the same manner as assembly 20 is connected to the handle and to frame member 12.

A person using device 10 to lift the article 28 shown in FIG. 1 grasps and exerts an upwardly directed force upon handle member 18. When this occurs, lever assemblies 20,20 exert forwardly directed forces upon the lower end portion of the frame of device 10, and such forces naturally tend to maintain flanges 16,16 in desired underlying relationship to article 28, thereby discouraging inadvertent slippage of the flanges from beneath the article. The possibility of article 28 being accidentally dropped, with consequential damage to it or injury to the user of device 10, is thus greatly minimized if not altogether obviated.

As an additional safe-guard in the foregoing connection, strap 24 and its associated clamping assembly 26 may be used. As is shown in FIG. 1, one end of strap 26 is secured in any suitable manner to a lower portion of one side of the frame of device 10, as by means of bolts 40 connected to frame member 12. The strap 24 is adapted to be passed about article 28 and to be releasable secured adjacent its opposite end (not shown) by clamping assembly 26. Assembly 26 comprises a generally channel-shaped housing 42 extending substantially horizontally between lower portions of frame members 12,12. Housing 42 is pivotally connected by a hinge member 44 to frame member 12 for pivotal movement about the substantially vertical axis of hinge 44 between the full-line and phanton-line positions thereof shown in FIG. 4. In its forwardmost pivotal position, shown in full lines in the drawing and normally occupied, channel member 42 abuts frame member 12' and a bore 46 provided in the upper surface of the channel member then underlies a bore 48 provided in an ear 50 projecting from frame member 12'. By insertion of a suitable pin (not shown) through the aligned bores 46,48, housing 42 may be usually releaseably secured in its aforesaid forwardmost pivotal position. The forward face of housing 42 is completely open, while a generally rectangular opening 52 is provided through its otherwise closed rear face. Vertically aligned slots 54 are provided in the upper and lower walls of housing 42 adjacent opening 52, and such slots extend generally in a forwardly-rearwardly direction. A cylindrical roller 52 of housing 42, then passed about roller 56, and then passed back through opening 52 and pulled taut. This and any subsequent tensile forces upon strap 24 produce rearward translatory movement of roller 56,

which in turn causes snubbing or clamping of the strap between the roller and the adjacent vertical edges of opening 52. The capability of housing 42 for pivotal movement about the axis ofhinge 44 to its FIG. 4 phanton-line position facilitates the ease with which strap 24 may be brought into and out of association with roller 56.

It will be appreciated that even when a strap 24 and clamping assembly 26, of the construction described above or of some other construction, are provided in associated with device 10, it may not in all cases be convenient or possible to utilize the same in the lifting of a particular article 28. For instance, the distance around the article 28 may in some cases exceed the length of strap 24. The hereinbefore described function performed by lever assemblies 20,20 is therefore significant irrespective of whether article-retaining means are provided.

It should be noted that lever assemblies 20,20 project only a short distance rearwardly of the frame of device 10, and handle 18 of the device is disposed relatively closely adjacent the rear of the frame and inwardly of both ears 34,34 and linkage members 30,30. This facilitates use of device 10 within confined areas, and also minimizes the possibility of the hand of a person using device 10 and grasping handle 18 being inadvertently mashed or otherwise injured during use of the device in aconfined area.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, since various modifications and alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled .in the art. For example, fixed for pivotallypositionable casters could if desired be added to the frame of device 10, and the two-part linkages of lever assemblies, 20,20 could if desired each alternatively be of one-piece construction. The scope of the invention should therefore be construed only in accordance with the following claims.

That which is claimed is: l. A device for lifting furniture and like articles,"comprising:

generally upright frame means; flange means carried by and projecting forwardly from said frame means adjacent the lower end portion thereof, said flange means being adapted to underlie an article to be lifted by said device; handle means disposed rearwardly of said frame means and adapted to be grasped by a person for lifting said frame means and an article underlaid by said flange means; lever means interconnecting said frame means and said handle means for exerting a forwardly directed force upon said lower end portion of said frame means, when the same is lifted by said handle means, to thereby assist in maintaining said flange means in underlying relationship to the article being lifted by said device.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said handle means comprises an elongate member disposed in spaced adjacent relationshipto an upper portion of said frame means and extending the major portion of the length thereof, and wherein said lever means comprises a pair of lever assemblies respectively connected to said handle means adjacent opposite end portions thereof.

3. A device as in claim 1, and further including padding means upon forwardly-disposed surfaces of said frame means and upon upper surfaces of said flange means for preventing marring of the article lifted by said device and engaged by said surfaces.

4. A device as in claim 1, and further including article-retaining means carried by said frame means.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein said articleretaining means includes an elongate flexible strap member secured adjacent one end thereof tosaid frame means and adapted when in use to encircle the article being lifted by said device, and clamping means carried by said frame means for releasably securing the other end portion of said strap member thereto.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said clamping means'includes a housing carried by said frame means and having an opening therein, a snubbing roller mounted within said housing for movement relative to it adjacent said opening, said other end portion of said strap member being adapted to be passed through said opening and about said roller during use of said clamping means.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said housing has an open forward face affording access to the interior of said housing, and further including hinge means connecting said housing to said frame means for pivotal movement of said housing from a normal forward position thereof to a rearwardly-extending position thereof for facilitating access to the interior of said housing through said open face thereof.

8. A device as in claim 1, wherein said lever means includes at least one elongate lever assembly connected adjacent one end thereof to said handle means and adjacent the other end thereof abutting said lower end portion of said frame means, and pivot-pin means carried by said frame means and mounting said lever assembly intermediate its length.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein said lever assembly has the general shape of the numeral 7, and comprises first and second linkage members interconnected at adjacent ends thereof.

10. A device as in claim 8, wherein said lever assembly is disposed closely adjacent one side of the device, and wherein said lever means further includes a second lever assembly disposed closely adjacent the other side of said device. 

1. A device for lifting furniture and like articles, comprising: generally upright frame means; flange means carried by and projecting forwardly from said frame means adjacent the lower end portion thereof, said flange means being adapted to underlie an article to be lifted by said device; handle means disposed rearwardly of said frame means and adapted to be grasped by a person for lifting said frame means and an article underlaid by said flange means; lever means interconnecting said frame means and said handle means for exerting a forwardly directed force upon said lower end portion of said frame means, when the same is lifted by said handle means, to thereby assist in maintaining said flange means in underlying relationship to the article being lifted by said device.
 2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said handle means comprises an elongate member disposed in spaced adjacent relationship to an upper portion of said frame means and extending the major portion of the length thereof, and wherein said lever means comprises a pair of lever assemblies respectively connected to said handle means adjacent opposite end portions thereof.
 3. A device as in claim 1, and further including padding means upon forwardly-disposed surfaces of said frame means and upon upper surfaces of said flange means for preventing marring of the article lifted by said device and engaged by said surfaces.
 4. A device as in claim 1, and further including article-retaining means carried by said frame means.
 5. A device as in claim 4, wherein said article-retaining means includes an elongate flexible strap member secured adjacent one end thereof to said frame means and adapted when in use to encircle the article being lifted by said device, and clamping means carried by said frame means for releasably securing the other end portion of said strap member thereto.
 6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said clamping means includes a housing carried by said frame means and having an opening therein, a snubbing roller mounted within said housing for movement relative to it adjacent said opening, said other end portion of said strap member being adapted to be passed through said opening and about said roller during use of said clamping means.
 7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said housing has an open Forward face affording access to the interior of said housing, and further including hinge means connecting said housing to said frame means for pivotal movement of said housing from a normal forward position thereof to a rearwardly-extending position thereof for facilitating access to the interior of said housing through said open face thereof.
 8. A device as in claim 1, wherein said lever means includes at least one elongate lever assembly connected adjacent one end thereof to said handle means and adjacent the other end thereof abutting said lower end portion of said frame means, and pivot-pin means carried by said frame means and mounting said lever assembly intermediate its length.
 9. A device as in claim 8, wherein said lever assembly has the general shape of the numeral ''''7'''', and comprises first and second linkage members interconnected at adjacent ends thereof.
 10. A device as in claim 8, wherein said lever assembly is disposed closely adjacent one side of the device, and wherein said lever means further includes a second lever assembly disposed closely adjacent the other side of said device. 